South East Asian Scutelleridae (Jewel Bugs, Shieldback Bugs)

Jewel bugs are aptly named both at the common name level and the Latin family name Scutelleridae. A 'scutella' referred to a flat dish or saucer. In entomological parlance a 'scutellum' is the shield-shaped structure placed centrally between the wing bases in insects. It is massively enlarged in this family of bugs to form an upturned 'dish' thus becoming a palette on which the genes can express their pleasing, usually metallic artworks. Despite most species being very obvious to predators, there are a small number that have opted for the camouflage lifestyle. Jewel bugs, like Stink Bugs, have repugnatorial glands which basically means they can make a bad stink

Jewel bugs are aptly named both at the common name level and the Latin Family name Scutelleridae. A 'scutella' referred to a flat dish or saucer. In entomological parlance a 'scutellum' is the shield-shaped structure placed centrally between the wing bases in insects. It is massively enlarged in this Family of bugs to form an upturned 'dish' thus becoming a palette on which the genes can express their pleasing, usually metallic artworks. Despite most species being very obvious to predators, there are a small number that have opted for the camouflage lifestyle. Jewel bugs, like Stink Bugs, have repugnatorial glands which basically means they can make a bad stink

Jewel bugs are aptly named both at the common name level and the Latin Family name Scutelleridae. A 'scutella' referred to a flat dish or saucer. In entomological parlance a 'scutellum' is the shield-shaped structure placed centrally between the wing bases in insects. It is massively enlarged in this Family of bugs to form an upturned 'dish' thus becoming a palette on which the genes can express their pleasing, usually metallic artworks. Despite most species being very obvious to predators, there are a small number that have opted for the camouflage lifestyle. Jewel bugs, like Stink Bugs, have repugnatorial glands which basically means they can make a bad stink

Jewel bugs are aptly named both at the common name level and the Latin Family name Scutelleridae. A 'scutella' referred to a flat dish or saucer. In entomological parlance a 'scutellum' is the shield-shaped structure placed centrally between the wing bases in insects. It is massively enlarged in this Family of bugs to form an upturned 'dish' thus becoming a palette on which the genes can express their pleasing, usually metallic artworks. Despite most species being very obvious to predators, there are a small number that have opted for the camouflage lifestyle. Jewel bugs, like Stink Bugs, have repugnatorial glands which basically means they can make a bad stink

Warning colours are used to advertise to potential predators the message that "if you mess with me then I will cover you in a bad smell, give you a bad stomach ache, bite you, or sting you , or both"! In the case of jewel bugs reddish-orange pigments warn of bad taste, especially if the bug is feeding on a poisonous plant and is able to sequester the poison towards its own defences. However there is often a cost when an inexperienced predator crunches the bug before spitting it out. To avoid potentially mortal damage these bugs, like Stink Bugs, have repugnatorial glands which basically means they can make a bad stink first

Warning colours are used to advertise to potential predators the message that "if you mess with me then I will cover you in a bad smell, give you a bad stomach ache, bite you, or sting you , or both"! In the case of jewel bugs reddish-orange pigments warn of bad taste, especially if the bug is feeding on a poisonous plant and is able to sequester the poison towards its own defences. However there is often a cost when an inexperienced predator crunches the bug before spitting it out. To avoid potentially mortal damage these bugs, like Stink Bugs, have repugnatorial glands which basically means they can make a bad stink first

Many species of Jewel Bugs have a metallic green base colour over their heads, thoraxes and enlarged scutellums. The common pattern form is based on transversely arranged dark blotches. In this squat Sumatran species the pronotum (top of thorax) is notably expanded at its front margin which has given rise to its name 'dilaticollis' which translates tom 'dilated neck'. The blotches are more strongly enlarged than in most species. Chrysochoris dilaticollis extends from India, Myanmar, Peninsular Malaya, Thailand to Sumatra and Borneo